Check locating means for checkwriters

ABSTRACT

A checkwriter having differentially settable printing sectors for printing amounts on checks. The sectors are manually advanced to different amount representing positions from home positions wherein they locate special symbols to be printed in lieu of amounts. Upon operation of the machine, a printing member is actuated to impress a check against type characters carried by the sectors and located on a printing line. Intermeshing adjustable check locating members are carried by the printing member to properly position a check relative to the printing line.

United States Patent Grey [ Oct. 30, 1973 CHECK LOCATING MEANS FOR CHECKWRITERS [75] Inventor: Michael W. Grey, Azusa, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Addmaster Corporation, San

Gabriel, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,686

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of ser. No. 168,979, Aug. 4, 1971, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl. 101/407, 197/143 [51] Int. Cl B41f 1/28 [58] Field of Search 101/407, 99, 415,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 891,150 6/1908 Crowley 101/407 B P 2,261,208 11/1941 Barkdoll 197/143 2,710,681 6/1955 Lambert 197/143 12/1955 Dolamont 271/59 X Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-E. M. Coven Att0rneyFred N. Schwend 5 7 ABSTRACT A checkwriter having differentially settable printing sectors for printing amounts on checks. The sectors are manually advanced to different amount representing positions from home positions wherein they locate special symbols to be printed in lieu of amounts. Upon operation of the machine, a printing member is actuated to impress a check against type characters carried by the sectors and located on a printing line. Intermeshing adjustable check locating members are carried by the printing member to properly position a check relative to the printing line.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CHECK LOCATING MEANS FOR CHECKWRITERS This is a division of application Ser. No. 168,979, filed 8/4/71, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,463.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to checkwriters and has particular reference to means for adjustably locating a check in proper printing line position.

2. Description of the Prior Art The M. W. Grey US Pat. No. 3,570,756, issued on Mar. 16, 1971, discloses a check locating device which is manually adjustable to locate a check in proper printing line position. Although such locating device is generally satisfactory, it is limited in its range of adjustment. Also, such device comprises a bail pivotally supported at opposite ends and adjustable about such pivotal supports to form a limit stop for the check. Thus, the bail assumes different angular positions relative to the check and when adjusted to extreme angular positions, such device tends to become unsatisfactory. That is, if the check is not exactly flat, a portion of its edge may locate against a different portion of the bail, thus resulting in inaccurate location of the check.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a check locating device is provided comprising two interconnected locating members which are pivotally supported by the printing member. Such locating members are located in a common plane and therefore take up a minimum amount of space while providing for a relatively large range of adjustment. Also, such members have check locating portions at their extreme outer ends which span a major portion of the length of the check to insure proper alignment of the check. Simple friction devices adjustably locate the locating members in different positions to which they may be set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a checkwriter embodying a preferred form of the present invention. a

FIG. 2 is a rear view taken in the'direction of arrow 2-in FIG. 1, illustrating the adjustable check positioning device.

FIG. 3 is a developed view of one of the pourous rubber printing segments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the checkwriter comprises a plurality of denominationally arranged input sectors 11 independently pivoted in side-by-side relation on a rock shaft 12. Each sector 11 has a series of numbered finger spaces 13 arranged around the periphery thereof and identified by a series of characters, incuding an asterisk symbol and the digits to 9.

Each of the input sectors 11 carries a porous ink impregnated segment 14 of rubber or the like, such as is known in the trade as PORELON,-having type characters formed in the outer face thereof as indicated at 17 in FIG. 3 and comprising an asterisk and the digits 0 to 9 corresponding to those marked on the finger spaces 13. Normally, when the sectors are in their illustrated home positions, the finger space 130 of each Also an astrisk type character 170 on each rubber segment 14 is normally located at a printing line, opposite a platen section 18 ofa printing member 19. The member 19 is pivotally supported at 63 for movement toward the sectors 11 to impress a check or the like against aligned type characters 17 as will be described later.

In order to set up amounts in the sectors 11, the user places his finger in a selected finger space of a sector 1 l and rotates the sector counterclockwise until his finger strikes the shelf 15, thereby presenting the corresponding type character 17 at the printing line.

In order to prevent smudging of the check 65 when inserting the same to be imprinted, a thin flexible mask 73 is supported by a frame tie rod 25 in position over the various inked segments 14 and has openings 74 therein aligned with the type characters 17 located at the printing line.

The input sectors 11 are yieldably detented in different set positions and, for this purpose, a pair of juxtaposed bars 27 and 28 are suitably secured to side frame plates, i.e., 26, and extend through openings 30 in the various sectors 11. Detent balls 31 are slideably supported in transverse openings in the bar 28 and are urged outwardly by respective compression springs 32 to yieldably engage detent notches 33 formed in the sectors 11.

The checkwriter is driven by a motor (not shown) through a cyclically operable clutch. The latter driven a main drive shaft 36.

The main shaft 36 carries a printer control cam 61, FIG. 1, which engages a cam follower portion 62 formed on the printer member 19. The latter is held in engagement with the cam 61 by a spring 64 tensioned between the member and an element 65 freely supported by the rock shaft 12. Accordingly, during the early part of each checkwriter cycle, the member 19 will be rocked counterclockwise causing the platen section 18 thereon to imprint the check 65 against an aligned set of type characters 17 which have been moved to the printing line by the sectors 1 1. During the printing impression the mask 73 will yield to permit imprinting. I

In order to verticallyadjust the location of the print line on the check 65, a pair of intermeshed gear sectors 66 and 67, FIGS. 1 and 2, are pivotally supported on pins 68 and 69, respectively, extending from the printing member 19. Pins 70 an 71 are formed on the sectors 66 and 67 and extend through arcuate slots 72 in the printer member 19 to underlie the check 65 and thus locate the same vertically. Warped spring clips 73 are also mounted on the pins 68 and 69 and frictionally engage the sectors 66 and 67 to yieldably hold the sectors in different set positions. By manually moving one of the sectors, both pins 70 and 7l will be adjusted like amounts vertically to determine the position of the print line on the check.

I claim:

1. In a checkwriter having a plurality of differentially settable members, each having a series of type characters thereon,

said members being differentially settable to locate different ones of said type characters along a printing line, and

their adjacent ends, said elements being adapted to support said record member on edge at the ends of said elements remote from said adjacent ends, and

means for maintaining said elements in different adjusted positions.

2. Locating means according to claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a stationary member and friction means intermediate said stationary member and at least one of said elements. 

1. In a checkwriter having a plurality of differentially settable members, each having a series of type characters thereon, said members being differentially settable to locate different ones of said type characters along a printing line, and a printing member movable towards said members whereby to impress a sheet-like record member against the said type characters located along said printing line; means for locating said record member relative to said printing line comprising a pair of supporting members extending at least substantially end-to-end, means on said printing member pivotally supporting each of said members intermediate its ends for adjustment into different rotative positions, means pivotally interconnecting said members at their adjaCent ends, said elements being adapted to support said record member on edge at the ends of said elements remote from said adjacent ends, and means for maintaining said elements in different adjusted positions.
 2. Locating means according to claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a stationary member and friction means intermediate said stationary member and at least one of said elements. 